Tony Snow Will Be Missed

“Tony Snow, 53, the former press secretary for President Bush, died early this morning from colon cancer, the same disease that took his mother’s life when he was 17.”

Mickey McLean at WorldMagBlog writes more. . . .

The Preacher’s Most Important Gift To The Church

The words of man alone cannot fill the void in my heart.  What secular purpose can fill my life that does not end in meaninglessness?  Anyone can stand before me and give a motivational message that offers a soothing temporary antidote to the frustrations of living.  This balm, however, does not heal my soul.  It is a poor substitute for the healing and life offered by Jesus Christ.

My spiritual health requires a preacher who does not merely speak of Christ, but is used by Christ Himself as an instrument through which His own voice can be heard.  Whether I hear a nice sermon is not important.  Did I hear Christ?  I do not go to church to be entertained.

If Christ does not speak through the Minister of the Gospel, I am lost.  I remain unreconciled in my sins.  Let me hear the Word of Christ.  No other words will do.  Christ puts His Word in the mouths of His preachers.  As the representative of Christ, the true preacher speaks nothing of his own but only the Word of God as found in the Scriptures.  Only this provides the light I need for salvation and to know God’s purpose for my life.

The Word of God may be presented in different ways to draw attention to the various areas of my life, but the words must be those of Christ’s when preached.  The preacher brings the message and wisdom of Christ, not that of mortal men.  The message must be given under and with the authority of Christ.  I must hear God’s Word, because it is God’s Word that I must obey.

There will be no fruit unless Christ is preached.  The Word of God, not the preacher, wins souls.  The words of men are no lasting remedy for the wickedness of my heart.  The Words of Christ give me a new heart.  They bring forth repentance.

Let the preacher; therefore, use all his God given talents and skills to prepare to preach the message and honor Christ and do so humbly.  He is the instrument of Christ and if it is not the Words of Christ that are brought forth; if Christ is not speaking through the preacher; if I hear only the noblest words of a man – I perish.  Therefore, I must say – dear preacher – with the Greeks that came to Jerusalem: “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” (John 12:21, ESV)